Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-06
fancy OF the dark eyes and the bright

fancy of the dark eyes and the bright
ened color on the lovely face.
| For Rita the evening was continued
triumph, but for one thing-Ralph
never came near her.
| Several times she encountered his
glance; and something in his earnest
look moved her strangely.
There was a mad wild hope in her
heart that he would ask her to dance.
Foolish Rita She had been cold
and Indifferent, vouchsafng him Meth
er word nor glance if she could avoid
it; and now that he in his turn held
aloof, she was miserable.
The lights and music Jared on her
excited nerves, and she longed to be
s.io..v.
After several unsuccessful attempts,
she finally escaped to the conservatory,
unnotlced and unattended.
She had not been there many min
utes when she was aroused by the sound
of voices near her.
'Whata foolish mani" Rita heard
strange voice say. You have every
thing to make you happy, and vet YOU
declare you are wretched."
81 have not the thing | most desire"
answered voice that made Rita shrink
further behind the large plants that
screened her.
Not for the world would she have
Ralph Chesney find her there.
''And what is that?"
1.-The love of the woman | ADORE"
said Ralph unsteadily.
'Old manA am sorry for you'll
did not know. Is lt''-hesitatinglv-
sis IL Rita Campbell?n
Yes, admitted Ralph slowly, and
they moved on.
Rita was too stunned to move, even
when their voices had died AWAY.
A tremor shook her frame; the slow
tears gathered beneath her lashes and
began to fall one by one.
''DoesShe@ love me?" she cried, try
inc. to believe in her happiness.
And so absorbed was she that she
did not hear the sound of approaching
footsteps.
AZ startled exclamation reused her,
and looking up, she found Ralph stand
ingi beside her
Ehey were both terribly agitated, but
after q moments silence, Raloh said
very gently:
Miss Campbell, YOU have learned
IN the last few minutes what intend
ed you should never know. / have al
ways laughed at the idea of love at
first sight, but the first time | saw YOU
my heart went from me- How my love
grew as the days went by it would be
impossible to tell you, but the hope of
my lifewas to call you my wife"
He paused for a moment, perhaps
to steady his voice.
s'But the more / showed my love,
the colder you grew, and you will
never know. the agony / endured when
| found your heart shut against rae; but
| determined not to pain you with an
avowal of my love, and [ should have
held to my resolve if accident had not
revealed my secret to YOU"
Not one word crossed the beautiful
lips when he finished
Fearing he had annoyed her beyond
all forgiveness, Ralph started away;
but, as though She OWNED his
thoughts, Rita rose to her feet.
AS she raised her eyes to his Ace,
something in their lovely depths gave
Ralph touch of rapture he had never
known before.
Rita" he cried in low imprisoned
tone, lean it be true that you love me
at lastp"
She made no verbal answer, but
turned to him face full of happiness
and content In another moment she
was in his arms.
Rita" bending his face to hers,
.'say-I love YOU"
Il love your she whispered back.
''My own, my wife!" he answered,
with his lips to hers.
A moment later he knew, with
thrill of rapture, his kiss had been re-
turned.